Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-10
CROSSINGS AT GRADE.
How the Railroad Tracks Inserset
the Streets Of Washimxtom.

THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
The railroads entering the city, except in q few
instances cross the streets at grade and conse-
quently there is danger TO be apprehended at
nearly every crossing. This condition Of affairs is
An additional reason for the advisability OF
union depot reached In such a manner as to 10
move ali danger from railroad trains within the
city limits. About stxty-fve passenger trains
arrive at and depart from the Baltimore and Poto-
mac depot every twenty -four hours. The number
OF freight trains passing TO and fro varies but the
| average would materially increase the total
About the same number OF passenger trains on the
Baltimore and Ohio road pass daily through the
northeastern section Of the city.
Up to two years ago the only protection at the
crossings was Waterman, with nag by day and
drivers AS these men could not be on both sides
OF the road at once 1t may be said that these sig
nails afforded but partial projection. The lifting
gate IS now In general use at all the crossings In
the city, put even with these safeguards accidents
happen more or less frequently.
WHERE THE CROSSINGS ARE LOCATED.
Leaving the Baltimore and Potomac depot the
first crossing Is Maine avenue and street south,
but the yard hands more less at this point
continually there IS no gate here. At Maryland
avenue, where the tracks diverge, the Baltimore
and Potomac passing down 9th street and the
Alexandria track westward down Maryland ave-
nue., on which there is more or less travel, rs the
avenue is direct route from the Long Bridge to the
ton to the regular trains the shftine engines are
frequently pulling or pushing cars, and engines
are passing to and from the engine house, there
have been no accidents OF note here At c street
gates are provided, also at Virginia avenue and
9Th street. and, although from the proximity Of the
Jefferson school, the streets are often crowded with
children, no accident has occurred although there
have been narrow escapes Between this point
and ~ street street crosses but there is not
the most important crossing is ~ street. where
the track is protected by gates Here there has
been an accident, caused by the gateman not hav-
ing seen an approaching train Till car OF the Me.
gates were let down on it. This is one Of the
as much as 7th street. Third street is projected
by gates and owing to the brick teams using 1t
has become but slightly less important than IN
street. Between I'd and Sd Streets where r street
crosses the avenue, and is one OF the most Inn
portant cross streets. gates have been erected as
sects it, and at South Capitol street. the latter
daily increasing in travel.
AT NEW JERSEY AVENUE
there are no less than II tracks uhe new freight
yard and engtne-house being located just west OF
the avenue) on grade, and these are protected by
gates, but of necessity they are very wide apart.
Here there is necessity for the most Intelligent
vigilance and management on the part OF the gate
man, owing TO the pulling and backing in making
up trains. When the round-house is put In use the
gatemen will put in steady daily work at the gate
levers. From Delaware avenue to I'd street the
tracks are on what was once known as the Old
N
the track is above grade, and though there Is no
regular crossing nor gates 1T Is crossed some little
by carts and wagons. Thus Tar there nave been
no accidents at this point The track strikes grade
short distance east OF % street and at the cross
ings OF Sd, 4th, 5th and 9Th streets Ghe tunnel
sd % y Vat he crossing
4th and 9th streets are used very frequently, as
just now reservations Is and 10, the old Eastern
Market ste are used as dump ground From the
eastern end OF the tunnel the road runs through
deep cuts until 1t strikes the Eastern Branch, De
tween 18th and 18th streets east, and tns nrss
Bennings, about miles out.
THE ALEXANDRIA BRANCH,
over which the Baltimore and Potomac line oper
ates, the Washington and Alexandria, Alexandra
and Fredericksburg, over which the Richmond
and Danville Piedmont Air Line) run their trains
into 9Th and streets, leaves 9th street at Mary
land avenue, by which the Long Bridge Is reached,
crossing the numbered streets at that point and
street at 18th street. In addition the tracks OF
the Baltimore and Potomac with those on 9th
street and Maryland avenue form by tracks
running through Virginia avenue from near the
local freight depot on 9th street to the tracks east
OF 9th street. At 7th street there are two sets OF
gates, one at Maryland and the other at Virginia
avenues. These crossings are PROBABLY the
NOSE IMPORTANT ON THE LINES,
as Is shown by the fact that the gatemen are al
most constantly at work. There is no crossing or
gates at sth street, bat at 9th street, where the
freight depot Is situated, there Is almost a con-
tinuouS string OF wagons and teams passing.
aso sS sree %heIe s1rest also crosses me
tracks, and the latter has become popular thor
oughfare and In addition has the 18th street line
also much Travelled, particularly by coal carts oys
ter, fish and produce wagons. AT 18th and 13h
streets gates are being erected. but each have all
along had watcnmen at the crossings.
CASUALTIES.
Watchmen and gates do not always prevent &C
cidents A Metropolitan street car crossing at AZ
street and Virginia avenue, about eighteen months
SINCE was allowed to get upon the railroad tracks
wrecked and by miracle the six passengers were
only slightly injured. Jane Cook, colored wo-
man, was killed at Bennings. near the gates, last
fall. John Taylor, colored man, was killed on
1sr street and Virginia avenue, In July OF last
year. In october OF last year John slaughter had
@ haa
at 10Th street, and were sligntly Injured There
were then no gates at 10Th or 1917 streets Feb
and Virginia avenue, and had his right arm Injured
and hand mashed. Even the gatemen themselves
are subject the dangers OF the rail- for tho late
Ira CroSson lost his lie at the 10thstreet crossing
a little over two years since
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO CRossrNGs
The tracks OF the Baltimore and OHIO diagonally
cross d and North Capitol streets, and passing
through square 6St, emerge on Delaware avenue,
Just south Of street, crossing that street, Massa
chusetts avenue, and street. North OF this point
they diverge, one set being used by the Washing
ton Branch and the other by the Metropolitan
Delaware avenue, curving north OF II street,
through the corner OF square ZIG into street, and
thence eastward to near 9th street, then curving
northwaid through squares S57, 900, passing over
Boundary street, between 10th and 18th, on its
way crossing X and streets, and the numbered
streets from ID TO 9th inclusive. The MetrOpoli-
| tan Branch from its divergence between and Il
Streets runs straight out LIST street east to street
north, where 1t curves to the right and passes out
| OF the city east OF the Scheutzen Park.
On the washington Branch there are gates at
| the mouth OF the depot North Capitol and D
| streets; at Delaware avenue and streets, Mas
sachusetts avenue and LIST streets; LIST and F, LIST
| and q and Delaware avenue and H street. At this
latter point the tracks are crossed by the COlum-
| bia street cars, and II street is used by large
number Of country teams and Is the direct route
from the western and upper part of the city to MI
| Onvet cemetery. From here the road passes
| through q cut and under bridge at I'd and
| streets northeast Third and l Streets are not
reach grade, and at 4th and 5th streets, on l. the
| crossings are protected by gates These are last
becoming popular crossings, for the northeast Sec
ton OF tue city Is improving. sixth street Is not
| yet opened, and at 9TH and X streets northeast,
where the travel is continually on the increase,
| there are gates. There are at present no gates
| at the Boundary crossing, but q Waterman is
| stationed there.
as also Rives. At Ivy City gates are at crossing,
but are used only during the races. There are
gates at Highlands where, at certain seasons,
there is considerable travel At Hyattsville gates
are in frequent use. On February 10, 1886 an
unknown man was killed by train At Montello,
on the Washington Branch.
THE METROPOLITAN BRANCH